SHILLONG, JULY 3: The Meghalaya High Court on Monday slammed the Harijan Panchayat Committee (HPC) for ‘playing fast and loose’ with the government and the court.
In its order after hearing a petition, the division bench said, “It appears that the respondents are playing fast and loose both with the government and with the Court.”
“A false impression was given on the last occasion that a minor matter had to be attended to but a subsequent statement was made that the Court had misinterpreted the submission,” it said.
The petition was related to the proposed relocation of 342 families of the Sweepers’ Colony from Them Iew Mawlong.
The bench also directed the state government to submit a progress report on the matter.
“It is hoped that the government takes immediate appropriate action and brings the matter to a close as expeditiously as possible. The matter will appear a fortnight hence for the government to report on the progress made,” it said.
The next hearing will be held on July 18.
On June 7, the Court in its order had informed that learned Advocate-General reports that Counsel for the Harijan Panchayat Committee has agreed, in principle, to the blueprint prepared by the government but has made some suggestions for modification in certain areas
“Since the State is looking at the suggestions for modification, let the matter come up three weeks hence. It is hoped that the parties will now resolve the long pending issue and give a quietus to these matters,” the Court had then stated.
Subsequent to this, Deputy Chief Minister in-charge Urban Affairs Sniawbhalang Dhar had responded that the government is ready to discuss with the HPC on their request for modification of the blueprint, which seeks to relocate the 342 families of Sweepers’ Colony from Them Iew Mawlong to the existing land of the Shillong Municipal Board (SMB).
He however said if the modification sought by the HPC is not feasible then the government will not agree.
By Our Reporter
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